Rookie Report: Handal debuts American Pharoah colt at Saratoga

A field of eight juveniles, plus two main track only entrants, has been assembled for a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight over the Mellon turf course in Race 5 on Sunday at the Spa.

Trainer Ray Handal will debut a well-bred son of 2015 Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year American Pharoah in American Gentleman.

Owned by Handal in partnership with Sol Kumin and Jason Monteleone's Madaket Stable, West Paces Racing and Cutair Racing, the chestnut 2-year-old is out of the Mineshaft broodmare Makison, who is a half-sister to Grade 1-winning millionaire Connect.

Bred in Florida by Stonehenge, American Gentleman was purchased for $240,000 from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Summerfield.

"He always did things so easily and was breezing like a beast," Handal said. "His presence, demeanor and everything about him is telling me that he's ready."

Handal, who won with the debuting Irish Constitution on Friday, is relishing the opportunity to train a horse by a Triple Crown winner.

"It's really exciting," Handal said. "When we landed him at the sale, I was so pumped.

"He honestly makes a quarter of a million look like a bargain. He really jumped out at me. He's just physically got all the right points that I look for in a horse: a great hip, massive gaskin, and a nice hind end. He was a little on the short side and that may have kept his price to where we could get him. He had all of the right things and he had the pedigree to boot."

American Gentleman will break from post 3 under jockey Manny Franco.

Trainer Wesley Ward will saddle first-time starter Outadore and second-time starter River Tiber.

Owned by Breeze Easy, Outadore is by freshman stallion Outwork and is out of the Tactical Cat broodmare Adore You, who produced stakes-winner and graded stakes-placed Piedi Bianchi.

Bred in Kentucky by Dean Baer and Greg Baer DVM, Outadore was a $290,000 acquisition from the Paramount Sales consignment at last year's Keeneland Septmeber Yearling Sale.

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. will be aboard Outadore from post 2.

Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor's River Tiber will attempt to make amends following a fourth-pkace finish on debut over the Wider turf at Belmont Park on June 12.

The bay son of champion producing stallion War Front is a full-brother to Hit It A Bomb, who won the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in 2015 as well as Group 1 winner Brave Anna. All are out of the Sadler's Wells broodmare Liscanna.

River Tiber, bred in Kentucky by Mrs. Evelyn Stockwell, was purchased for $500,000 from Four Star Sales consignment barn at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano will be aboard from post 10.